The unemployment rate in Arizona went up 0.3% to 8.3% in August 2013. This is now the highest rate for the state in 2013 and the highest since Sept 2012. AZ now has the 13th highest in the US and is 1.2% higher that the national average of 7.1%. Many other states in the Southwest/West are also among the highest (Nevada and California).

And as you know, the "official" unemployment rate is an inaccurate misrepresentation. Economists calculate that if the workforce was as large as it was prior to the 2007 economic collapse, the nation's unemployment rate would be closer to 12%! It's because of the fact that after their unemployment ran out, discouraged workers stopped looking, went on disability, went on welfare, or retired, the figure is 7.1%!